by Cynthia Dane
Her full attention went to him when she wasn’t hanging up Alice’s coat. “The place is rather busy, sir.”
“Bringing in good revenue, I should hope.”
“I should think so, Mr. Monroe.”
He turned Alice’s head in his direction. “I want you to pay special attention to this club tonight, my pet. More so than when you even worked here. I want to know your thoughts later.”
“Why, sir?”
“You’re questioning me?”
“No…” She had almost forgotten they were deep in what he called a “scene.” The man wanted a more lifestyle type of BDSM relationship with her, but calling something a scene made it easier for her to slip into the mindset she was learning to appreciate. “Just wondering.”
“Trust me, Alice. There’s a lot you’ll be able to take away from tonight. Let’s get going so these fine people behind us can check in.”
Alice bit her lip. “So you can make more money off them, I’m sure.”
“See? You’re catching on already.”
She couldn’t help but wonder how much these people really spent in one night at this club. Thousands, obviously. Tens of thousands? Money matters hadn’t concerned Alice the short time she worked here. She didn’t conduct transactions. Her only job was to get guests settled and make sure they stayed comfortable throughout the night.
Alice stopped wondering that when they halted outside the main gallery, Monroe pulling something from his inner pocket.
A long, silver chain.
“Sir?” Alice took a step back.
“You must understand, my pet.” The chain snapped between his hands. “Once we walk into that room, you are my pet, and I am your Master. That brings with it a certain image. I didn’t get you a collar with a ring by accident.”
Alice touched the ring in the center of her collar, eyes never leaving the end of the leash.
“Any humiliation you feel can be transformed into power.” The end of the leash tickled Alice’s cleavage. “We feed off each other’s power.”
She said nothing as he snapped the leash into place. His gentle tug against her throat sent a wild shiver down her spine.
“You belong to me, Alice. Don’t you?”
Hard to argue when he implored like that. Alice flicked the leash dangling between them and motioned to the room beyond them. “You can parade my body around all you want, Master,” she whispered. “Know that your heart belongs to me.”
He kissed her, his desperation to have her right now, before she even made her grand, kinky debut, absolutely palpable. Alice barely registered the other couple walking by them, taking in the sight of the club owner and his brand new pet making out as a leash dangled between them. Did someone giggle? Did Alice care?
“You’re damn straight my heart belongs to you.” Monroe pulled away, leash still in his hand. “Be sure that you take good care of it, and I’ll be sure to take good care of all of you.”
“See that you do, sir.”
“See that you’re the most obedient, beautiful submissive woman out there tonight. We both have an image to maintain.”
“Whatever you want, Master.”
The most frightening thing was that Alice was on the verge of really, truly giving him anything he wanted. She had already given him so much, virginity not considered. It wasn’t about her body and her comfort zones anymore. It was about her heart, like it was about his.
“I want you, Alice.” The other end of the leash wound tight around his jacket sleeve. “I want you every night. I want you every morning. I want you to be mine tonight, tomorrow, forever. I don’t care if there’s anyone against us. It doesn’t matter to me. It’s our lives to do what we will and what feels good.” He kissed her. “Are you ready?”
“I was born ready to serve you, sir.”
“Why, Ms. Culver.” The leash tugged against her throat. “I dare say you know how to speak to a man like me.”
Monroe led the way into the main room, a world that felt so different now that Alice didn’t have anyone to concern herself with but her boyfriend. No, he’s more than my boyfriend. He’s my everything. Alice didn’t believe it healthy to have her entire life revolve around one thing – let alone a man – but for one night every so often? There was no harm in that, right?
To say they were the center of attention as they made their way to Monroe’s favorite VIP area was an understatement. No matter what path they took, who they stopped to say hello to, or how fast they traveled, everyone who even had an inkling of who they were halted whatever they were doing to look, sometimes covertly, sometimes with an open gawk. Alice let their judgmental looks wash off her skin – and she had a lot of skin exposed. All it took was one glance and some stranger saw her ass, her stomach, her breasts bulging from the pushup bra. Monroe had put her on display. If he was proud of her? Proud enough to show her off like this? Then Alice would embrace it as well.
No, the other guests were easy. She was a novelty. The ones who made her feel uneasy were the staff.
“Mr. Monroe.” Susan appeared the moment they were seated on a long leather sofa. She and Alice exchanged tentative looks. Yeah, I never thought we would meet again like this, either. Alice, with a collar around her throat, a leash attached to Monroe’s hand, and barely any clothes on her figure. “I trust that you are doing well this evening, sir.”
“Very well, thank you, Susan.” He leaned against his knees as he reached for a remote control that allowed him to adjust the temperature and lighting in their corner. Things warmed up… and became dimmer. “I trust you remember my girlfriend, Alice?”
Another awkward exchange. Don’t make this worse. Please. “I remember Alice quite fondly,” Susan said with a plain smile. “What would you and Alice like to drink tonight?”
Monroe ordered them a round of drinks before Susan hurried away from the VIP area. She didn’t offer to send over any of the dancing girls. Thank God. It wasn’t the idea of her Master watching other women dance that upset her. It was the idea that she used to work with these women that made her uncomfortable. The last thing she wanted was one of them taking off a top and jiggling breasts for the VIP corner’s entertainment.
“Look at that frivolity.” Monroe pointed to the throng of people sitting, laughing, drinking, and playing in the club. All of them were dressed up for a night out. All of them were half intoxicated either on alcohol or lust – or perhaps both. Men walked with scantily clad women who poured them drinks and giggled at bad jokes. Women walked with half naked men who poured them drinks and got hard on command. The only reason Alice stopped staring was because Ms. Clayborn appeared, the frumpiest of them all. “Ah, Ms. Clayborn. Did your reconnaissance prove fruitful?”
She didn’t sit down. “Yes, Mr. Monroe. She is here this evening.”
“Invite her over. If her husband protests, tell him it’s a ladies’ matter.”
“Yes, sir.” Ms. Clayborn disappeared into the group of people nearby.
“Who?” Alice was trapped between distancing herself from her boyfriend, assumedly freeing herself from the awkwardness of being caught in the place she was fired from… or from curling up next to him, seeking his warmth.
She didn’t get an answer. A server appeared, and Alice thanked her stars that she didn’t recognize the woman placing the drinks on the table. Monroe thanked her. The woman glanced at Alice, snorted, and wandered off with her tray tucked beneath her arm.
“What is it?” Monroe rubbed Alice’s knee. “You’re tense. You should relax. Here.” He handed her a glass of liquor. “If you don’t like it, we’ll get you something else.”
“It’s not that.” Alice wanted nothing more than to dote on the man she claimed to love. Yet that was hard to do when half the employees in the club were murmuring to each other, trading snickers, and even a few sighs.
“Then what?”
Alice proved him right about being tense. She felt like a rubber band about to snap. “It’s a bit awkward being here… sir.
”
The leash twirled around his fingers. “Because you know the people working here,” Monroe said matter-of-factly.
“Not well, no, but enough. I only worked here a night. I got fired because I had sex with you. Now I show up a month later dressed like this.”
Monroe considered her words while he drank, ice rattling in his glass. “There is nothing to fear, my pet. Some of them may judge you, but you need to get used to being judged. There will always be someone judging you. As long as they do not outright offend you – and if they do, don’t hesitate to inform me – you can take their criticisms and their jealousy and use it to empower you. That’s the first thing you learn when you grow up in my world.”
Not that your own father is a shitbag? No, tonight was not the night for those thoughts. “You’re right. I don’t even know the woman who served us our drinks.”
“You know Susan.”
“She was very nice to me when I worked here. She was training me.”
“Now I am the one training you.” Alice walked right into that one. “If and when we have children, my pet, you will need to understand that kind of thinking.”
What startled Alice more? The fact he coolly commented on them having children, or her feeling so unfazed about it? Of course we’re having… no, no, stop. Alice wanted to take things one step at a time. It had been only a few weeks, for fuck’s sake! How could they be talking about marriage and children so soon? How could a man who was so logical and methodical throw his heart into the ring like that? Did he really believe in fate that badly?
“Ah,” he interrupted her thoughts with a smile to the woman entering the VIP room. “There she is. So nice of you to accept my invitation, Mrs. Warren.”
The woman, who stepped into the minute light with a wariness only Alice could appreciate, kept her short stature straight and her polished pink lips up. She doesn’t look like she belongs here. For one, she wore a conservative red dress that covered everything but the bottom half of her legs. For another? Her bobbed haircut and the classical way she did her makeup spoke more of the country club type than someone who would be caught alive in a sex club.
The only thing giving her away was a black choker wrapped around her throat. Before, Alice would have never thought twice about it. The leather choker blended in seamlessly with Mrs. Warren’s outfit. Now, though? Alice knew better.
“Mr. Monroe,” the woman said with a firm voice. She turned her attention to Alice. “I don’t believe we have yet to meet.”
Before Alice could introduce herself, Monroe spoke. “Allow me to introduce you to my girlfriend, Alice Culver.”
“Oh, yes. I remember now. You look quite different in this getup than you did in the Senator’s Ball photographs on Page 6.” Her wry smile was the only thing keeping Alice from thinking about harsh judgment. Remember, Damon said to take any judgment and turn it into something else. Easier said than done. “Either way, you are quite the lovely woman, Ms. Culver. Pleasure.” Mrs. Warren did not extend her hand, choosing to stand on the other side of the table.
“Alice, this is Mrs. Monica Warren. She’s a legend around these parts.” Monroe cocked his head. “Suppose you could say we have a friendly rivalry.”
“We’re in the same line of business.”
“More specifically, she keeps poaching my employees to work at her… what are we calling it these days? A pleasure house?”
“Why, yes.” Monica Warren brushed some lint off her arm. “You really should come by sometime, Mr. Monroe. It’s been much too long.”
“I came by to make sure Judith had a smooth transition from working here to working there. I did my part. Thought I was quite cordial, considering you snatched one of my biggest moneymakers around here.”
Alice had no idea what was going on or what they were talking about. All she had gathered so far was that there was a business rivalry between her boyfriend and this woman. Did they used to be lovers? Did they used to work together? Why were tinges of jealousy warming Alice’s body? Was this what it felt like to be so protective of her boyfriend?
Someone caught the sour look on her face. “I assure you, Ms. Culver,” Monica Warren said with lightness to her voice, “there is no hanky-panky in our background here.” She sniffed. “Mr. Monroe’s not quite my type.”
“Speaking of which, didn’t you just have a baby? I’m both pleasantly surprised and slightly concerned that you’re here tonight, Mrs. Warren.”
“Yes, and it’s not swell spending so much time away from home right now. Yet when your husband demands your first date night in weeks, you are inclined to agree for an evening.” Monica shrugged. “I don’t quite feel like I’m surviving, but I appreciate this distraction you are providing, Mr. Monroe.”
“Well, I did not mean to disrupt your well-deserved date night. Send your husband my sincerest apologies.”
“I will. When he found out who had requested my council, he was not… impressed.”
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time I do any business with your husband.”
“Do that.”
Alice had whiplash from this exchange. Both her boyfriend and their guest glanced at her, Monroe wrapping his arm around her and Monica casually shifting her weight. “Anyway, do pardon our intrusion on your evening, Mrs. Warren,” Monroe began. “But I wanted to introduce you to Alice. She could use some friends in our sinful world.”
Monica pursed her lips in curiosity. “Is that so? I admit, your unexpected romance has been the trendy topic as of late. We were listening to a conversation about it in the other room. When you’re in such a public relationship, the world takes notice… apparently.”
“Why, thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.” He put his hand on the small of Alice’s bare back. “So will she.”
Monica focused her attention on Alice’s mask – and her collar and leash. “I may be no stranger to this kind of kink, Mr. Monroe, but I’ve got a feeling that your new… girlfriend… is.”
“You would be correct. I was hoping that you could make room in your endlessly busy schedule for my precious Alice. She needs guidance.”
Alice bristled at this consultation. Guidance? What is he talking about? She had never heard of Monica Warren before, or any pleasure houses, or poaching employees, or some woman named Judith. Wait, did someone mention a Judith when I worked here? Alice couldn’t keep up anymore.
“I’m sure something can be arranged.” Monica kept her gaze on Alice. “If that’s what Ms. Culver would like.”
Alice took a chance interrupting her boyfriend when he went to speak in her place. “I would appreciate it, ma’am.” She didn’t know what she agreed to.
“Very well, then. I’m spending most of my time at the Warren Estate these days. I’ll send an invitation for the most auspicious day I can arrange.” She turned. “Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Monroe. Ms. Culver.”
“What was that about?” Alice asked Monroe, who was motioning his assistant over to send her on a quest to find Susan. He wanted to make sure the Warrens were extra pampered in the club tonight. “Does that woman know who I am?”
“That woman happens to be one of the most well-respected lifestyle submissives on this side of the country. I can’t teach you everything, my pet. You’ll need some female guidance too.”
“You made it sound like you’re business rivals.”
“Yes and no. She keeps stealing my employees, but I always find more.” Monroe brought her into a firm embrace. “Don’t I?”
His mouth was all over her by the time Ms. Clayborn returned. The assistant had no reaction to give. The bodyguard, on the other hand, suggested that he and the assistant head a few paces away. “Give them some breathing room,” he muttered.
Most of the next hour went like this. Monroe was in high spirits, sending free drinks to revelers who amused him and pulling aside employees to give them compliments or to direct them to other VIP club members who needed more pampering.
People came over, loud a
nd boisterous, bringing out a side of Monroe that Alice had never seen before. She sat on the corner of their couch, leash dangling over the side, as she watched this otherwise stoic man clap shoulders and smile so broadly that only alcohol could have been involved. Indeed, he drank a good bit. Alice supposed she should be happy that Monroe was a happy, comical drunk as opposed to broody or violent, but it was still strange to listen to him tell a group of men dirty jokes or laugh uproariously at some young woman’s tale – especially when said young woman wore nothing more than a white negligee. Alice would have been jealous, but the energy between him and this other submissive woman was so casual and he spent every other minute touching his girlfriend that it was impossible to be too jealous.
He introduced her to everyone, and everyone to her. Alice was never expected to get up from the couch, but she did exchange pleasantries with people she would never remember the names of later. This person did business with Monroe. That one went to the same boarding school as him. This woman was the best friend of an ex-girlfriend, and wasn’t it funny they still got along? I wish Candice was here. Who was she kidding? She wanted Candice far away from this. Talk about making things even more awkward.
The party dispersed after only a half hour. Monroe, high on conversation and more than one drink, sat down next to Alice and dismissed his staff. The bodyguard promised to be only a call away. Ms. Clayborn escaped to the back offices, cell phone to her ear.
Monroe took Alice by the hand and brought her over to the edge of the VIP area. She stood, in her lingerie, mask, and leashed collar, wondering if she would ever get used to this.
“Tell me, my love,” Monroe said, drink in hand. “When you look at this sordid kingdom, what do you think about changing? Tell me one thing you would change about this place.” He kicked back the last of his drink. “But if you’re telling me to fire someone, you better have a good reason.”
Alice’s eyes widened to the point that the edges of the mask grazed her lashes. “What do you mean?”
“I mean if you could change one thing to increase revenue, what would it be?” His hand grabbed her ass. Alice clung to him to keep her balance – and her budding arousal at bay.
